Week 5

[grimgrinningghosts]

[...So that was a mess. All of it was a mess, and things don't look to be improving any time soon. With tensions at an all-time high and conditions worsened, it seems pretty safe to say that this whole week promises a great deal of foreboding atmosphere.

But, hey, things aren't entirely bad. Just as Randall promised, you're now able to leave the Manor! 

Just don't stay out there for too long. There's still a lot of you, and you just can't afford to lose numbers.

24 guests remain]

[SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY]

[OOC: and don't forget to fill out this week's activity check!]

Comments

[stanbyme]

[Later in the afternoon, Stan is shuffling a little slower than normal, taking his time heading from the living quarters to the stairs. He has his hair pulled back in a fluffy little ponytail at the nape of his neck, and his button-up shirt looks like it’s in dire need of being pressed, which might be part of why he’s wearing his jeans with it instead of his suit slacks.

At first glance, it looks like he’s just being cautious to make sure he doesn’t get trapped in a hallway with one of those stupid-looking elephants (they do remind him too much of the bubbles that filled Gravity Falls during Weirdmageddon), but when he reaches the stairs he grips the railing with one hand and puts the other on his back, grimacing as he picks his way up the stairs.

It’s no wonder he’s headed to the medical room. He pops a few mild painkillers and swallows them dry, then lays down on his back on one of the cots with a low groan of pain.]

When did I get so darn old?

Medical Room

[sorrydoods]

[Soos is coming back here cause, hopefully, if he starts borrowing (stealing) a bunch of supplies from here, he might be able to finally save someone.

He's a bit surprised to see Stan here.]

Mr. Pines? What are you doing here?

[stanbyme]

[He wasn’t dozing but he had his eyes shut until they snap open when he hears Soos’ voice.]

Uhhh... My back started acting up. Thought I’d take something and wait for it to kick in before I head back down the stairs.

[sorrydoods]

Oh. Wait a second.

[After he says that, Soos goes over to the nearest cabinet and looks through it for a couple of seconds before pulling out a small bottle with the label 'Metaxalone' on it.]

Try this. My grandma uses it sometimes when she has back problems.

[stanbyme]

[Stan perks up a little, interested, and manages to sit up with his back giving a crack of protest. He winces, rubbing his back with one hand and holding his hand out for the bottle.]

You're a lifesaver, Soos.

[sorrydoods]

It's no big deal. Just wanted to help.

[He should be helping his friends after all.]

So, how've you been? We...haven't actually talked that much while we've been stuck here.

[Which...makes him feel really awkward, when he really thinks about it.]

[stanbyme]

About as good as anyone else is.

[Maybe a little better, right now. For reasons he sure ain’t saying, especially not to his employee-slash-practically son.

He pats the part of the cot right next to him, if Soos wants to sit.]

How ‘bout you? You holding up okay?

[sorrydoods]

[Soos does sit down, and he lets out a breath he didn't even know he was holding in. Get ready for a speech type thing.]

I dunno. Everything's just...crazy. We've seen six people die-half of them kids-and I keep thinking everything's gonna be okay in the end, even with...everything else that happened before, but there's still just one little part of me that isn't even sure if we'll even get saved by the others before half of us are dead, or Negaduck just ends up killing us all, and...and...

[He doesn't even realize he's starting to cry until the next breath he takes in is shaky and uneven. Even then he just wipes away the tears and tries to lie against the wall the cot is next to.]

I just...don't know what to do...

[stanbyme]

Yeah, I think I finally found the one place worse than Colombian prison.

[When Soos starts to cry, Stan doesn’t know what to do for a long moment. What he settles on eventually is to put an arm around Soos’ shoulders to steady him.]

...I dunno what to do either. Even when we get outta here, we gotta find Ford, and Dipper, and we gotta keep this whole thing from happening again.

But hey, we faced down the apocalypse once, didn’t we? We gotta have faith we can get outta this mess, too. And save everyone we lost so far.

[Including Dipper.]

[sorrydoods]

[Deep breaths...deep breaths...]

I...you're right. We...we did something that seemed impossible once. We should be able to do it again. And we'll have more help this time too. Just need to find them first.

Thanks, Mr. Pines. I...I really needed that.

[stanbyme]

[When Soos comes back around, Stan gives his shoulders a squeeze and offers him a smile that’s still a little bit sad.]

Yeah, yeah, don’t get all mushy on me.

[Which, obviously, is “Stan language” for “Anytime.”]

[sorrydoods]

[I hope Stan is ready for a full on hug because Soos is just gonna wrap him up in a big hug, being a little gentle as well to make sure he's not hurting his back.]

[stanbyme]

[Stan tenses when Soos hugs him, anticipating another twinge in his back, but while his back does give a little pop it's the kind that feels good. He does let out a 'whuff' at the hug, though, before he gives Soos a pat on the back.]

Hey, I already said don't make it sappy.

[Making no actual effort to pull away from the hug.]

medical room

[doopdoll]

Uh, I dunno, like forty years ago? [Age. What is it? Molly's in the medical room goofing around, trying to avoid the elephant party. She was hoping someplace as boring as the medical room would help her avoid them.]

[stanbyme]

[That gets a laugh out of him.]

You got me there, kid. Even thirty must be ancient to you. What are ya, six?

[doopdoll]

One of my friends told me twenty's the new forty.

No way! I'm older than that. I'm not a baby.

[stanbyme]

Nah, you're... 'bout Mabel's age, ain't ya? Twelve or thirteen?

[doopdoll]

Fourteen, now. I feel like I was twelve and thirteen for ever. [comics ages, man.]

[stanbyme]

Yeah, well, next thing you know you'll be about my age and wondering where the time went.

[He sits up with a grunt.]

Nice hit, by the way. At the trial? You knocked Prince Doofus for a loop.

[doopdoll]

Gross! No way! [Gag.]

Yeah, well-- he had it coming.

[stanbyme]

Sure he did. Where'd you learn to fight like that?

[doopdoll]

I taught myself, after I ran away from home.

[stanbyme]

Well... Y'know what, good for you. I've been on my own since I was seventeen, and it never hurt me none.

[No #stayinschool lessons here.]

[doopdoll]

Yeah! I'm doing great- I'm not alone though. I've got friends- that's basically like having a family again. [Just. Not evil.]

You don't seem like you're really on your own anymore, either. I've seen you with that little girl, during the trials.

[stanbyme]

Nah, you’re right. Mabel’s my great-niece - she and her brother are my brother’s grandkids. Plus I got my twin brother, and my two employees. But even til about ten or fifteen years ago, I didn’t have none of ‘em.